Western Kansas world., 1887-12-10

PUBIC Ee08utyy Uub tuo 8I06t mHjOk1by
Of our citizens who buy domestic articles of
the same class pay sum at least approx
mately equal to this duty to the prime man
ufacturer. This reference to the operation
of our tariff laws is not made by way of in
struction, but in order that we may be con-
stantly reminded of the manner in which
they impose burden upon those who con-
sumo domestic prOddcts, as well as those
v ho consume imported articles, and thus
proposed to entirely relieve the country of
this taxation. It must be extensively con-
tinued as the source of the governments in
come, and in readjustment of our tariff
the interests of American labor engaged in
manufacture should be carefully considered
as well as the preservation of our manufac.
turers. 1t may be called protection, or by
any other name, but relief from the hard
ships and dangers of our present tariff laws
against imperilling the existence of our
manufacturing interests.
rHELABoB QUESTION.
But this existence should not mean con-
dition which, without regard to the public
welfare or national exigency must always in
sure the realization of. immense profits in
stead of moderately profitable returns. As
the volume and diversity of our national
activities increase, new recruits are added to
those who desire q continuance of the advan-
fages which they conceive the present sys-
tenn of tariff taxation directly affects them.
So stubbornly have all efforts to reduce the
present condition been resisted by those of
our fellOw-citZens thus engaged, that they
can hardly complain of the suspicious enter
tanned to q certain extent that there existed
an organized combination all along the line
to maintain their advantage. We are in the
midst of centennial celebrations, and with
becoming pride we rejoice in American skill
and ingenuity, in American energy and en-
terprise, and in the wonderful natural advan-
tages and resources developed by century's
national growsh, yet when an attempt is
made to Justify scheme which permits a
tax to be laid upon ever consumer in the
land, for the benefit Of our manufacturers,
quite beyond reasonable demand for gov
ernmental regard, it suits the purposes OF
advocacy to call our manufactures infant IN
dustries, still needing the highest and great
est degree of favor and fostering care that
can be wrung from federal legislation.
1t Is also said that the increase in the price OF
domestic manufactures resulting from the
present tariff is necessary in order that
higher wages may be paid to our working
men, employed In manufactures than are
paid for what is called the pauper labor OF
Europe. All will acknowledge the force OF
an argument which involves the welfare and
liberal compensation of our labor is honora-
BILE in the eyes of every American citizen,
and as it lies at the foundation of our devel-
opment and progress it is entitled, without
any affectation and hypocrisy, to the utmost
regard. The standard of our laborer's lives
should not be measured by that of any other
country less favored, and they are entitled
to their full share of all our advantages. By
the last census it is made to appear of the
Il, ,392, ,099 of our population engaged in all
kinds of industries 1850, ,49S are employed
in agriculture, 4,074, ,238 in professional and
personal service, (2,9S4, ,876 of whom are do
mestic servants and laborers, while 1,S1O,-
256 are employed in trade and transporta-
ton, and 8, 837, ,112 are classed as employed
in manufacturing and mining. For present
purposes, however, the last number given
should be considerably reduced, Without
attempting to enumerate all it win be con-
ceded that there should be deducted from
these, which includes 1851 carpenters and
ioiners, 285, ,4M milliners, dressmakers and
seamstreesee, liz, ,726 blacksmiths, 13S. .176
tailors and tailoresses, 102, ,473 masons, 76,-
al butchers, 4, 800 bakers, q, ,06S plasterers,
and .691 engaged in manufacturing agri-